CRAIG TO GET 911 TELEPHONE SYSTEM

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 4, 1993                   TAG: 9302040434
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium
CRAIG TO GET 911 TELEPHONE SYSTEM
Parts of Craig County will get a 911 emergency telephone system soon.
The New Castle Telephone Co. recently installed updated equipment, and the Craig County Board of Supervisors Monday approved spending $436.16 for the installation.
Jerry Harms, telephone company manager, said the system will cover telephone numbers with 864 and 897 prefixes - about 90 percent of the county.
Craig is getting a simplified system in which callers with emergencies dial 911 and get a direct line to the sheriff's dispatcher, where two special phones will be installed.
Harms said the two emergency lines will lessen the chance of a caller's getting a busy signal. Also, he said, the two 911 lines cannot be used for any other types of calls.
In other action, the supervisors:

Adopted a resolution opposing the planned closing of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office in Craig. The resolution said the Craig office serves 664 farmers.
The federal government has proposed combining many of its farm program offices because of budget deficits. Under a proposal, the office in Craig will be combined with the one in Botetourt County.

Adopted a resolution supporting a "bottle bill," which has been introduced into the General Assembly but never passed for many years.
Such a bill would require soft drink firms to market their products in returnable bottles. A deposit would be required, and the bottles could be used again. The purpose of the bill is to reduce litter and encourage recycling.

Learned there is still a chance Craig may get grant money to identify and help young people and families at risk of having drug or alcohol problems.
Craig had applied for the grant under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' High Risk Youth Program but was notified in January that the funds were not available.
Federal officials, however, said new grant requirements are being drawn up, and funds may be available from the department's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB